This page gives an overview of mapping airports, spaceports, aviation-related and space flight related items in OpenStreetMap. For a detailed list of tags see aeroway=*.

Most aviation activity is centred on aerodromes (or airports); these facilities are tagged with aeroway=*. The most well known examples are huge international airports with multiple runways, terminal buildings with large retail areas, and a lot of (non-aviation) public transport links, but these tags apply just as well to small private grass strips.

Disclaimer of liability:While great care is often taken adding information to OpenStreetMap, the information should not be used for purposes where errors or omissions could lead to damage, injury, or loss of life.

A place from which flight operations take place. Term includes airports, aerodromes, airfields, and landing strips whether international, private, military or otherwise; aerodrome:type=* may be used to classify what type of aerodrome it is. Other common tags include name=*, iata=*/icao=*, ele=*. An aerodrome may include 0 or more runways, taxiways, hangars, aprons, terminals or helipads. A Heliport is a special type of aerodrome serving only helicopters. Aerodromes can be drawn as a node, area or a multipolygon.

A Heliport is a special type of aerodrome serving only helicopters. Differentiated from an aerodrome by the typical lack of a runway; uses the same tags as aeroway=aerodrome. May include 0 or more helipads, taxiways, hangars, aprons or terminals. Not the same as aeroway=helipad (an area, on an aerodrome or heliport, used for the landing or takeoff of helicopters)

The area of an aerodrome used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. ref=* indicates the runway designator (e.g. 03L/21R). Other common tags include surface=* and width=*. Drawn as a way; area mapping is becoming more common but is disupted; (see discussion here and here). Optional Lifecycle tags may apply.

A rectangular surface beyond the end of a runway prepared or suitable for use in lieu of runway to support an airplane, without causing structural damage to the airplane, during an aborted takeoff.[1] These are also called overrun areas, or blast pads. They are usually marked with yellow chevrons, and are not part of a runway proper, thus the unique tag. Drawn as a way.

Taxiways are paths connecting various parts of an airport so that aircraft may move between them. Usually labeled alphabetically (e.g. A; or Q1, Q2, Q3); use ref=*. Other common tags include surface=* and width=*. Drawn as a way; like runways, area mapping is disputed (see discussion here and here). Optional Lifecycle tags may apply.

Note: Taxiways are by definition not the same thing as taxilanes, which is "the portion of the aircraft parking area used for access between taxiways and aircraft parking positions."[1] A proposal exists for aeroway=taxilane.

Holding positions are tagged on nodes along a taxiway, or runway to indicate locations at which aircraft may be required to stop, typically in order to remain safely clear of an intersecting runway or taxiway.

Areas were aircraft are parked or are serviced. Usually named either alphabetically (e.g. "Alpha") or by purpose (e.g. "Cargo Apron"). Common tags include name=* and surface=*. May contain parking positions, taxiways, and helipads. Drawn as an area.

Building used for the processing of passengers and cargo. Implies building=yes; entrance may be tagged with building=entrance. Common tags include name=*. Often contain shops, other amenities, and links to other public transport systems. Usually associated with one or more gates. Drawn as an area.

A place such as a farm field, hill slope or similar reasonably flat area where light aircraft can land and take off from. Airstrips often have no permanent supporting infrastructure. Passenger carrying aircraft do not normally use an airstrip unless they are providing joyrides, scenic flights, or are involved in aviation related sports or adventure tourism

Aerodromes often contain numerous amenities and transport links which can be mapped individually. Guidelines for each of the transport links can be found in their individual pages. Railway stations, Subways, Taxi Ranks, Bus Stations.

Some amenities often found in and around aerodromes and their terminals can be found below;

Military aerodromes

Not for aeronautical use!

Main article: Aviation. The mission-critical nature of aviation means that data you find in OSM is not suitable for aeronautical use. Wiki-derived data is unlikely to pass strict certification requirements (not even for simple recreational flying). OSM data is generally very accurate, but it just might not be accurate enough for aviation.

That said, many will still find such information useful, so don’t stop contributing.

Don't map airspace

The regular on-the-ground rule of OSM applies. If it’s something tangible that you can point at (like a runway, helipad, or gate) then you can add it. If you can't do that (as with airspace, routes, and aeronautical waypoints) then you should leave it out; (there was a project OpenAviationMap but it seems dead). Similarly, don’t upload your flight path traces, or draw air routes on the map: routes vary because of weather, time of day, amount of traffic, serviceability of facilities, and the number of ants in the coffee machine. Besides, they’ll probably annoy other mappers (the routes, and maybe the ants too).

Routes

There’s no method for mapping airline services between airports. This might be solved by using relations but airline schedules change regularly, so OSM might not be the best place to store such data.